Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin overhauled his off-field support staff in the off-season.
Kiffin hired Billy Glasscock and Alex Brown as his new General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, respectively. Both positions mostly focus on recruiting, and the pair’s deepest ties/roots are in talent-rich Texas.
DJ Mann brings even more Texas flavor. Mann made the jump from high school to the SEC in April. He’s the assistant director to Brown.
“It’s definitely a challenge,” Mann said, in a previous one-on-one sit-down with the Ole Miss Spirit. “Being a head coach and coaching at some of the places I’ve been at definitely has prepared me for the opportunity. I’ve had a chance to send high-level prospects to big-time schools.
“But (Ole Miss is) just a different world. It’s top-notch college football on the highest level. The expectations are extremely high. A lot of people say, ‘He’s coming from high school. Why in the world would Ole Miss make a hire like that?’”
The answer is actually quite simple.
Mann last served as the head coach at Coronado High School in Lubbock. His recruiting prowess is widely respected. His previous stops include a stint as a recruiting coordinator.
“I’ve been blessed to be at a lot of places,” Mann said. “I actually started as a college football player and handled a lot of my own recruiting — sending out videos and messaging coaches. Played ball at West Texas A&M. I wasn’t a great player and knew I wasn’t going to the NFL. So, I said, ‘What else can I do to keep myself involved in the game?’
“I sent like 20 emails to high school coaches in the area just asking to volunteer and one coach messaged me back, at Amarillo-Palo Duro.”
Mike Williams was another hire in player personnel and scouting for Kiffin.
Kiffin also pulled former Rebel Bryan Brown from Cincinnati to pair with Pete Golding as Ole Miss co-defensive coordinator. George McDonald, formerly of Illinois, replaced Derrick Nix as wide receivers coach. Hired as analysts were former head coaches Joe Judge (New York Giants) and Zach Arnett (Mississippi State).
“Alex Brown played a very huge role,” Mann said of his decision to star anew 12 hours from home. “Ole Miss, it speaks for itself. Ole Miss has done a phenomenal job adapting. There’s some programs out there that have been elite and are not embracing the portal. The one that comes to mind immediately is Clemson. I think it’s hurting their program right now.
“The trajectory (at Ole Miss) is going up. Everything is trending in the right direction. Coming off a big year, favorable schedule. It’s a place you’re going to be taken care of. Awesome city, where everything revolves around (Ole Miss). They want to do a good deed (and) be kind. That’s something you won’t find everywhere.
“It’s a great place to be and for a young man to come and develop. Safe town. You’re going to be welcome no matter what.”
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